Portable image scanner

Abstract

Reflected image light obtained by illuminating a reading portion to be read on a given objective image plane is sent to an image sensor located on the rear side through a reflecting member disposed substantially just above the reading portion. By forming a viewing path inclined forward against or toward with respect to a vertical plane the image sensor so as to permit the reading portion to be observed easily, the desired image light reflected from the reading portion is little interfered with external light entering inside the scanner through the viewing path, thereby to obtain image processing of high quality.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A portable image scanner, which comprises: a housing having a reading aperture formed in a lower surface thereof;   a light source mounted in said housing for illuminating a reading portion to be read on an objective image plane;   a reflecting member mounted in said housing for reflecting image light reflected from the reading portion;   an image sensor mounted in said housing which receives said image light sent through said reflecting member and which is adapted to convert said image light to corresponding image data signals;   means for allowing the housing to move in a sub-scanning direction wherein the housing comprises a first part for permitting an operator to move the housing in a sub-scanning direction and a second part which is of a greater width than said first part in a main-scanning direction,   said first part of said housing being disposed at a downstream side of said housing in said sub-scanning direction and said second part being disposed at an upstream side of said housing in said sub-scanning direction,   said light source, said reading aperture and said reflecting means being positioned in said second part of said housing, said housing being provided at an upper surface thereof with a peep hole displaced to the image sensor side with respect to a portion substantially right above said reading aperture so as to form a viewing path inclined toward said image sensor side; and   a transparent member for covering said peep hole through which said reading portion can be observed.   
     
     
       2. An image scanner according to claim 1, wherein the peep hole is positioned on the second part of the housing. 
     
     
       3. An image scanner according to claim 1, wherein said light source is disposed on an upstream side of said reading aperture in a sub-scanning direction and wherein said moving means is disposed on a downstream side of said reading aperture in said sub-scanning direction. 
     
     
       4. An image scanner according to claim 3, wherein said moving means is disposed on said second part of said housing. 
     
     
       5. An image scanner according to claim 3, wherein said moving means comprises a cylindrical roller. 
     
     
       6. An image scanner according to claim 5, wherein a diameter portion of said cylindrical roller is of a greater length than the distance between said light source and said reading portion. 
     
     
       7. An image scanner according to claim 5, which comprises sub-scanning detecting means for synchronizing movement of said housing in the sub-scanning direction of a predetermined amount to carry out renewal of a scanning line and which is connected to said cylindrical roller. 
     
     
       8. An image scanner according to claim 1, wherein said light source is disposed on an upstream side of said reading aperture in a sub-scanning direction and said image sensor is disposed on a downstream side of the reading aperture in said sub-scanning direction. 
     
     
       9. An image scanner according to claim 8, wherein said image sensor is disposed in said first part of said housing. 
     
     
       10. An image scanner according to claim 1, which comprises a converging lens for focusing said image light on said image sensor and which is disposed on a light path of said image light sent through said reflecting means. 
     
     
       11. An image scanner according to claim 10, wherein said converging lens is disposed in said first part of said housing. 
     
     
       12. An image scanner according to claim 1, which comprises means positioned in said first part of said housing for carrying out image reading. 
     
     
       13. An image scanner according to claim 1, which comprises means positioned in said first part of said housing for adjusting read-out density of a read-out image. 
     
     
       14. An image scanner according to claim 1, which comprises a transparent member for covering said reading aperture. 
     
     
       15. An image scanner according to claim 1, wherein said transparent member for covering said peep hole comprises a filter member having low permeability to light. 
     
     
       16. A portable image scanner, which comprises: a housing having a reading aperture formed in a lower surface thereof;   a light source mounted in said housing for illuminating a reading portion to be read on an objective image plane;   a reflecting member mounted in said housing for reflecting image light reflected from the reading portion;   an image sensor mounted in said housing which receives said image light sent through said reflecting member and which is adapted to convert said image light to corresponding image data signals; and   means for allowing the housing to move in a sub-scanning direction wherein the housing comprises a first part for permitting an operator to move the housing in a sub-scanning direction and a second part which is of a greater width than said first part in a main-scanning direction,   said first part of said housing being disposed at a downstream side of said housing in said sub-scanning direction and said second part being disposed at an upstream side of said housing in said sub-scanning direction, and said light source, said reading aperture and the reflecting means being positioned in said second part of said housing;   said housing being provided at its upper surface with a peep hole which is formed substantially right above said reading aperture and extending rearward of said reading aperture so as to have a portion thereof at least partially vertically offset from said reading aperture to an image sensor side so as to form a viewing path inclined toward said image sensor side; and   a transparent member for covering said peep hole through which said reading portion can be observed.   
     
     
       17. An image scanner according to claim 16, wherein the peep hole is positioned on the second part of the housing. 
     
     
       18. An image scanner according to claim 16, wherein said light source is disposed on an upstream side of said reading aperture in a sub-scanning direction and wherein said moving means is disposed on a downstream side of said reading aperture in said sub-scanning direction. 
     
     
       19. An image scanner according to claim 18, wherein said moving means is disposed on said second part of said housing. 
     
     
       20. An image scanner according to claim 18, wherein said moving means comprises a cylindrical roller. 
     
     
       21. An image scanner according to claim 20, wherein a diameter portion of said cylindrical roller is of a greater length than the distance between said light source and said reading portion. 
     
     
       22. An image scanner according to claim 20, which comprises sub-scanning detecting means for synchronizing movement of said housing in the sub-scanning direction of a predetermined amount to carry out renewal of a scanning line and which is connected to said cylindrical roller. 
     
     
       23. An image scanner according to claim 16, wherein said light source is disposed on an upstream side of said reading aperture in a sub-scanning direction and said image sensor is disposed on a downstream side of said reading aperture in said sub-scanning direction. 
     
     
       24. An image scanner according to claim 23, wherein said image sensor is disposed in said first part of said housing. 
     
     
       25. An image scanner according to claim 16, which comprises a converging lens for focusing said image light on said image sensor and which is disposed on a light path of said image light sent through said reflecting means. 
     
     
       26. An image scanner according to claim 25, wherein said converging lens is disposed in said first part of said housing. 
     
     
       27. An image scanner according to claim 16, which comprises means positioned in said first part of said housing for carrying out image reading. 
     
     
       28. An image scanner according to claim 16, which comprises means positioned in said first part of said housing for adjusting read-out density of a read-out image. 
     
     
       29. An image scanner according to claim 16, which comprises a transparent member for covering said reading aperture. 
     
     
       30. An image scanner according to claim 16, wherein said transparent member for covering said peep hole comprises a filter member having low permeability to light.